Krispy Kreme, Inc.
Krispy Kreme, Inc. (previously Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.) is an American multinational doughnut company and coffeehouse chain. Krispy Kreme was founded by Vernon Rudolph (1915–1973), who bought a yeast-raised recipe from a New Orleans chef, rented a building in 1937 in what is now historic Old Salem in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and began selling to local grocery stores. Steady growth preceded an ambitious expansion as a public company in the period 2000 to 2016, which ultimately proved unprofitable. In 2016, the company returned to private ownership under JAB Holding Company, a private Luxembourg-based firm. In July 2021, Krispy Kreme became publicly traded again on the Nasdaq. The brand name is a deliberate non-standard spelling of "crispy cream", for marketing effect.
Basic company information
Each field links to its source. Financial figures retain their reporting periods; background references are identified in the source list.
- Business sectors
- gastronomy [1]
- Company / filing name
- Krispy Kreme, Inc. [2]
- Headquarters location
- Winston-Salem [1]
- Founded
- 1937-07-13 [1]
- Legal form
- Business Corporation [1]
- Leadership in background record
- Josh Charlesworth [1]
- Founders
- Vernon Rudolph [1]
- Official website
- https://krispykreme.co.kr/; https://krispykreme.com; https://krispykremesa.com/; https://www.krispykreme.co.uk/; https://www.krispykreme.mx/ [1]
- Employees
- 4,000 · reported year 2011 [1]
- ISIN (reported securities)
- US5010141043 [1]
- CIK
- 1857154 [2]
- Country in background record
- United States [1]
- Symbols / exchanges
- DNUT (Nasdaq) [2]
Company positioning and business
Krispy Kreme, Inc. (previously Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc.) is an American multinational doughnut company and coffeehouse chain. Krispy Kreme was founded by Vernon Rudolph (1915–1973), who bought a yeast-raised recipe from a New Orleans chef, rented a building in 1937 in what is now historic Old Salem in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and began selling to local grocery stores. Steady growth preceded an ambitious expansion as a public company in the period 2000 to 2016, which ultimately proved unprofitable. In 2016, the company returned to private ownership under JAB Holding Company, a private Luxembourg-based firm. In July 2021, Krispy Kreme became publicly traded again on the Nasdaq. The brand name is a deliberate non-standard spelling of "crispy cream", for marketing effect. [3]
Background text: Wikipedia contributors, Krispy Kreme. Selected introductory paragraphs, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Official filing data is cited separately.
Management and corporate governance
The Wikidata background record identifies Josh Charlesworth in the chief-executive role. This background entry is not an official confirmation of the current board or executive roster. [1]
Understanding company scale
Employees: 4,000 · reported year 2011. [1]
Financial year, securities and disclosures
Listed securities: DNUT (Nasdaq). Multiple symbols may represent different share classes or securities of the same registrant. [2]
History and key events
Founding / inception date recorded in Wikidata. [1]
Financial results and regulatory disclosures
No individual financial documents have been indexed yet. Open the source to consult company disclosures. [2]
Related entities and concepts
Frequently asked questions
When was Krispy Kreme, Inc. founded?
Founded: 1937-07-13. The linked source provides the background record. [1]
Where is the headquarters of Krispy Kreme, Inc.?
Headquarters location: Winston-Salem. The linked source provides the background record. [1]
Which business sectors are recorded for Krispy Kreme, Inc.?
Business sectors: gastronomy. The linked source provides the background record. [1]
Sources and review dates
- Wikidata — company background record (CC0) ↗
- Company identity and profile data ↗
- Wikipedia contributors — Krispy Kreme (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗
Reviewed 23 October 2026. Financial periods and historical event dates are shown separately. Figures reflect their stated source dates; this page is not a live quote or investment recommendation.